Ball tossing game devices



1962 w. R. HANCOCK 3,049,352

BALL TOSSING GAME DEVICES Filed March 22, 1961 INVENTOR WILBERT R. HANCOCK ATTORN EY United States atent ice 3,049,352 BALL TOSSING GAME DEVICES Wilbert R. Hancock, 83 Bellhaven Road, Toronto 8, Ontario, Canada Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,661 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-96) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in game apparatus, and more specifically to a novel game stick for tossing a game device.

This invention in particular relates to a novel game stick which is specifically intended for tossing a game device which is formed of two balls connected together by a cord. The game stick is provided with a suitable head which may be utilized to readily engage the cord between the two balls and to lift the game device and effecting the tossing or propelling thereof towards an opponent.

Another feature of the game stick is that the head thereof has a pointed toe which has a relatively narrow end and which may readily engage the cord of the game device even though the game device is lying upon the ground.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel game stick for tossing a game device formed by two balls connected together by a cord, the game stick having a head which includes a toe for readily engaging the head of the game stick with the cord and an abutment at the rear end of the toe for engaging the cord to effect a propelling force (thereon.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing two players utilizing game sticks in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a first form of game stick, an intermediate portion of the shank thereof being broken away.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower end of another form of game stick, the upper portion of the shank thereof being broken away.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a game device which is propelled utilizing the game sticks of FIGURES 2 and 3.

Reference is now made to the drawings in detail, wherein there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a game device which is generally referred to by the numeral 5. The game device 5 is formed of two identical balls 6, 7 which are connected together by a suitable cord 8. In the use of the game device 5, as is best shown in FIGURE 1, the cord 8 is engaged by a game stick, and the game device 5 is propelled between two players, such as the players 9, 10. The players 9, 10 are utilizing game sticks which are generally referred to by the numeral 11.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 2 in particular wherein the specific details of one of the game sticks 11 are shown. The game stick 11 includes an elongated shank 12 which may be of any suitable length and diameter as is required for the individual player. The shank 12 may be formed of wood or other light weight rigid and strong material. A head, generally referred to by the numeral 13, is disposed at the lower end of the shank 12.

The head 13 includes a pointed toe 14 and a shank engaging rear portion 15. It is to be noted that the toe 14 tapers from a maximum width at its point of engagement with the shank engaging rear portion 15 to a rounded pointed forward end 16. Also, the thickness of the toe decreases from its point of engagement with the shank engaging rear portion 15 to the pointed forward end 16 which has a minimum thickness. The toe 14 has a flat upper surface 17 which engages the cord 8.

It is to be noted that the shank engaging rear portion is a continuation of the toe 14 and is disposed in angular relation thereto. The shank engaging rear portion 15 is provided with a socket 18 in which the lower end of the shank 12 is received. The upper surface of the shank engaging rear portion is so shaped at the lower end thereof to define a rear abutment surface 19 which is a continuation of the upper surface 17 of the toe 14.

In the use of the game stick 11, the game stick is so manipulated by gripping the shank 12 that the toe engages beneath the cord 8, with the result that the toe 8 is engaged by the upper surface 17 of the toe 14. As the game stick 11 is moved forwardly, the cord 8 will slide along the surface 17 until it comes into engagement with the abutment surface 19 which will restrict the further rearward movement of the cord 8 relative to the head 13. This contact engagement between the head 13 of the game stick 11 and the cord 8 permits the game stick 11 to propel the game device 5 in the desired manner. Further, due to the specific shape of the toe 14, it may be readily engaged with the cord 8 even though the two balls 6, 7 may be resting upon the ground.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 3 in particular, wherein there is illustrated another form of game stick, generally referred to by the numeral 20. The game stick 2% includes an elongated shank 21 which corresponds to the shank 12. The game stick 20 also includes a head 22 mounted on the shank 21 at the lower end thereof.

The head 22 includes a lower forward toe 23 and a shank engaging rear portion 24. It is to be noted that the toe 23 is generally pointed so as to terminate in a narrow rounded forward end 25. Also, it is to be noted that the toe 23 is provided with a transversely curved convex upper surface 26 so that the toe 25 feathers out to a narrow edge about the periphery thereof. Thus, the forward end 25 of the toe 23 is relatively thin and may be readily engaged beneath the cord 8.

The shank engaging rear portion 24 of the head 22 is provided with a socket 27 which receives the lower end of the shank 21. The socket 27 is defined by a tubular rear part of the shank engaging rear portion 24. The shank engaging rear portion 24 has a block-shaped forward part 29 which is integrally connected to the rear edge of the toe 23 in vertically offset relation. Thus, a forward face 30 of the shank engaging rear portion 24 defines an abutment surface at the rear of the upper surface 26 of the toe 23, which abutment surface 30 is engaged by the cord 8 after it rides over the toe 23 so that a propelling force may be imparted to the game device 5 to effect the tossing or propelling thereof.

It is to be noted that in both the head 13 and the head 22, the toe is aligned with the shank of the game stick. In this manner, through a simple forward movement of the game stick, the toe may be engaged beneath the cord 8 and in a continuous motion, the game device 5 propelled in the desired direction. This greatly facilitates the engaging and propelling of the game device 5. It will also be readily apparent that due to the specific shapes of the toes 14 and 23, the game device 5 may be either caught in the air or readily scooped off the ground.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there has been devised a suitable structure for carrying out the desired end. However, it is to be understood that other minor modifications may be made in the game stick without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A game stick for tossing a game device in the form of two balls connected by a cord, said game stick being adapted to engage the game device by the cord thereof and comprising an elongated shank terminating at the lower end thereof in a cord engaging head, said head having a fiat undersurface and a pointed, downwardlytapered, elongated toe for engagement beneath the game device cord, said shank including a rear abutment portion extending in a vertical direction from the upper surface of said toe, said toe being in alignment with said shank and abutment portion and increasing in thickness from the terminal end thereof rearwardly and extending into said rear abutment portion.

2. The game stick of claim 1 wherein said toe has a fiat upper surface terminating in said upwardly directed rear abutment surface.

3. The game stick of claim 1 wherein said toe has a transversely curved upper surface terminating in a generally feathered edge.

4. The game stick of claim 1 in combination with a game device comprising two ball elements connected by a flexible cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

